X Factor: 5 Stocks Reaching Their Ex-Dividend Date on April 3

DCT Industrial Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Sysco Corporation are on the list.

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Many stocks will reach their ex-dividend date next Wednesday, which is significant for investors as the seller of the stock on that date, not the buyer, receives the most recent dividend.

A stock must be bought one day before the ex-dividend date to claim any dividends that have been announced but not yet paid. The company determines on the record date, which usually occurs two days after the ex-dividend date, which shareholders qualify for the dividend. Shareholders listed as holders of record after the record date then receive their dividend on the date of payment established by the company. Those purchasing right before the record date forfeit the dividend and normally get the stock for a reduced amount.

It may seem an anachronism in this era of high frequency trading, but the dividend rate rules are in force since it can still take up to three business days for transactions to be credited to and settled in an investor's account.

Below are five stocks that schedule April 3 as their ex-dividend date. All annual yields are estimated.

DCT Industrial Trust (NYSE:DCT) yields 3.82% annually and has a market cap of $2.06 billion. The real estate investment trust, or REIT, will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.26 on April 17, and its quarterly yield will be 0.94% based on yesterday's closing price of $7.40. The company has paid a quarterly dividend since the end of 2006.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) yields 3.45% annually and has a market cap of $66.61 billion. The biopharmaceutical company will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.35 on May 1, and the quarterly yield will be 0.86% based on yesterday's closing price of $40.68. The company has paid a quarterly dividend since 1970.

Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) yields 3.22% annually and has a market cap of $20.36 billion. The distributor of food products will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.28 on April 26. Its quarterly yield will be 0.80% based on yesterday's closing price of $35.00. The company has paid a quarterly dividend since the second half of 1987.

JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) yields 3.18% annually and has a market cap of $181.73 billion. The financial holding company will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.30 on April 30, and its quarterly yield will be 0.62% based on yesterday's closing price of $48.64. The company has paid a quarterly dividend since 1984.

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) yields 2.24% annually and has a market cap of $46.93 billion. The producer and seller of medical devices will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.26 on April 26, and its quarterly yield will be 0.56% based on yesterday's closing price of $46.65. The company has paid a quarterly dividend since 1982.

These companies also have their ex-dividend date on April 3. All annual yields are estimated.

Pearson (NYSE:PSO) yields 5.14% annually and will pay a semi-annual dividend of $0.4552 on May 8.

DuPont Fabros Technology (NYSE:DFT) yields 3.29% annually and will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.20 on April 15.

Monsanto (NYSE:MON) yields 1.43% annually and will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.375 on April 26.

Torchmark Corporation (NYSE:TMK) yields 1.15% annually and will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.17 on May 1.

Royal Gold (NASDAQ:RGLD) yields 1.13% annually and will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.20 on April 19.

Purchase -- and have your broker settle -- before the ex-dividend date to secure the dividend.